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DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is the hereditary material in humans and almost all other organisms. Nearly every cell in a person’s body has the same DNA. Most DNA is located in the cell nucleus (where it is called nuclear DNA), but a small amount of DNA can also be found in the mitochondria (where it is called mitochondrial DNA or mtDNA).

Researcher explores new way to deliver therapy to brain metastases from primary breast cancer

An Indiana University School of Medicine breast cancer surgeon is pursuing research that will utilize glass, gold, nanotechnology and Greek mythology hoping to vanquish breast cancer that has metastasized to the brain.

19 Apr 2013

North American scientists chart new territory in immunity research

Cracking the DNA code for a complex region of the human genome has helped 14 North American scientists, including five at Simon Fraser University, chart new territory in immunity research.

19 Apr 2013

Researchers study new ways of taking advantage of caffeine's lethal effects on cancer cells

Researchers from the University of Alberta are abuzz after using fruit flies to find new ways of taking advantage of caffeine's lethal effects on cancer cells-results that could one day be used to advance cancer therapies for people.

19 Apr 2013

Three missense variants of BRCA1 gene linked to breast or ovarian cancer risk, study shows

Researchers of the hereditary cancer research group at the Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute and the Catalan Institute of Oncology conducted a functional and structural study of seven missense variants of the BRCA1 gene concluding that three of these variants are pathogenic, linked to the risk of suffering breast or ovarian cancer.

19 Apr 2013

Parents tend to share more bacteria with their dogs than their children

As much as dog owners love their children, they tend to share more of themselves, at least in terms of bacteria, with their canine cohorts rather than their kids.

18 Apr 2013

Scientists record atomic motions in real time

Call it the ultimate nature documentary. Scientists at the University of Toronto have recorded atomic motions in real time, offering a glimpse into the very essence of chemistry and biology at the atomic level.

18 Apr 2013

Study highlights importance of zebrafish as a model organism for human disease research

Researchers demonstrate today that 70 per cent of protein-coding human genes are related to genes found in the zebrafish and that 84 per cent of genes known to be associated with human disease have a zebrafish counterpart.

18 Apr 2013

CRISPR helps some bacteria evade mammalian immune system

CRISPR, a system of genes that bacteria use to defend themselves against viruses, has been found to be involved in helping some bacteria evade the mammalian immune system.

18 Apr 2013

Researchers find potential new genetic chemotherapy approach for cancer treatment

Researchers at The Jackson Laboratory have identified a molecule that prevents repair of some cancer cells, providing a potential new "genetic chemotherapy" approach to cancer treatment that could significantly reduce side effects and the development of treatment resistance compared with traditional chemotherapy.

18 Apr 2013

Examining function of all genes in zebrafish genome could benefit human health, researchers say

Equipped with the zebrafish genome, researchers have designed a method to assay the function of each and every gene and to explore the effects genetic variation has on zebrafish.

18 Apr 2013

Tacere Therapeutics submits TT-034 clinical trial application to Recombinant DNA Advisory Committee

RNAi-based therapeutics company Benitec Biopharma Limited today announced that the company's wholly owned US subsidiary, Tacere Therapeutics Inc., has submitted an application to the US National Institutes of Health's Recombinant DNA Advisory Committee.

18 Apr 2013

Study suggests strain with Haiti cholera mutations may increase severity of disease

The cholera strain that transferred to Haiti in 2010 has multiple toxin gene mutations that may account for the severity of disease and is evolving to be more like an 1800s version of cholera, reports a new Northwestern Medicine study.

17 Apr 2013

UCSF study evaluates genetic predictors of lymphedema in women

A new UCSF study has found a clear association between certain genes and the development of lymphedema, a painful and chronic condition that often occurs after breast cancer surgery and some other cancer treatments.

17 Apr 2013

Viewpoints: 9 'brilliant legal minds' wrestle with tough biological questions in gene case; Drug overdoses take surprising toll in Calif.; VA case raises privacy questions

When the Supreme Court took up the question Monday of whether genes could be patented, the justices were clearly concerned about preserving innovation in medicine and biotechnology. But the issue presented by Myriad Genetics' patents on the BRCA genes cuts both ways, leading to a potential split among the justices (Jon Healey, 4/15).

17 Apr 2013

High court seems skeptical that biotech firm can patent human genes

Supreme Court justices seemed to express skepticism Monday that a biotech company can patent human genes isolated from the body that signal a greater likelihood of ovarian or breast cancer.

17 Apr 2013

Study finds genetic variation is associated with pulmonary fibrosis risk

A newly published study of patients with pulmonary fibrosis has discovered multiple genetic variations that should help with future efforts to treat the disease.

16 Apr 2013

First Edition: April 16, 2013

Today's headlines include coverage of the Supreme Court oral arguments regarding whether patents should be granted for human genes.

16 Apr 2013

Benitec to conduct phase I/II clinical trial of TT-034 in patients with HCV in UCSD site

RNAi-based therapeutics company Benitec Biopharma Limited today announced the selection of the University of California, San Diego, Health Sciences as the second site for its upcoming phase I/II first-in-man trial for TT-034 in Hepatitis C infections.

16 Apr 2013

Viewpoints: Editorial boards offer advice to Supreme Court on gene patents

On Monday, the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear argument about that decision in Association for Molecular Pathology v. Myriad Genetics.

16 Apr 2013

Supreme Court to decide crucial case on patenting human genes

The high court will hear a challenge to Myriad Genetics' patent of breast and ovarian cancer genes in a case that will affect the future of biomedical research, the fight against diseases like breast and ovarian cancer and a multi-billion dollar biotechnology business.

16 Apr 2013

DNA News and Research

Further Reading

Researcher explores new way to deliver therapy to brain metastases from primary breast cancer

North American scientists chart new territory in immunity research

Researchers study new ways of taking advantage of caffeine's lethal effects on cancer cells

Three missense variants of BRCA1 gene linked to breast or ovarian cancer risk, study shows

Parents tend to share more bacteria with their dogs than their children

Scientists record atomic motions in real time

Study highlights importance of zebrafish as a model organism for human disease research

CRISPR helps some bacteria evade mammalian immune system

Researchers find potential new genetic chemotherapy approach for cancer treatment

Examining function of all genes in zebrafish genome could benefit human health, researchers say

Tacere Therapeutics submits TT-034 clinical trial application to Recombinant DNA Advisory Committee

Study suggests strain with Haiti cholera mutations may increase severity of disease

UCSF study evaluates genetic predictors of lymphedema in women

Viewpoints: 9 'brilliant legal minds' wrestle with tough biological questions in gene case; Drug overdoses take surprising toll in Calif.; VA case raises privacy questions

High court seems skeptical that biotech firm can patent human genes

Study finds genetic variation is associated with pulmonary fibrosis risk

First Edition: April 16, 2013

Benitec to conduct phase I/II clinical trial of TT-034 in patients with HCV in UCSD site

Viewpoints: Editorial boards offer advice to Supreme Court on gene patents

Supreme Court to decide crucial case on patenting human genes

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

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